TNF down-regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase-dependent mitogenic signal pathways as an important step in cytostasis induction and commitment to apoptosis of Kym-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells.

Growth of Kym-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells depends on endogenous receptor tyrosine kinase signals activated by insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGF), as revealed from enhancement of proliferation by insulin and IGF-1 and cytostatic action of inhibitors of IR/IGFR kinases. Depending on the presence or absence of the caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, TNF induced full growth arrest or apoptosis, respectively, indicating dominance of TNF over mitogenic signal pathways in Kym-1 cells. In accordance with a caspase-independent cytostatic action, TNF downregulated IR kinase activity and caused a profound inhibition of downstream mitogenic signals including the MAPK cascade and STAT5, key pathways of proliferation and cell survival. Removal of z-VAD-fmk after 24 h induced rapid cell death in the absence of TNF. The inhibition of survival signals concomitant with persisting proapoptotic signals may tip the balance towards an irreversible commitment of the cell to apoptosis that becomes apparent upon relief of suppression of effector caspases.

A cellular reporter assay to monitor insulin receptor kinase activity based on STAT 5-dependent luciferase gene expression.

A highly sensitive method for determination of insulin receptor (IR) kinase activity in whole cells, which is based on a STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5)-dependent reporter gene assay, has been developed. We show in Rat1 fibroblasts stably overexpressing the human IR (Rat1-HIR-cl5) an insulin-dependent direct association and phosphorylation of STAT5b by IR kinase. Rat1-HIR cells transfected with a luciferase gene reporter construct under control of a STAT5-inducible promoter showed insulin-mediated induction of STAT5-dependent luciferase activity, with peak activities around 8 h of insulin treatment over a wide dose range. Transient STAT5b but not STAT5a cotransfection significantly enhanced reporter gene activity, yielding up to a fivefold induction. Addition of the IR kinase inhibitor tyrphostin AG1024 down-regulated luciferase induction in a dose-dependent manner. This is the first assay allowing determination of IR kinase activity in intact cells in a 24-well culture and a microtiter format. Kinetics of this cellular response, sensitivity range, and signal amplitude make it well suited for automation and offer the potential for establishing high-throughput screening systems for both insulin mimetic substances and IR kinase antagonists in a simple nonradioactive assay.

Cross-talk mechanisms in the development of insulin resistance of skeletal muscle cells palmitate rather than tumour necrosis factor inhibits insulin-dependent protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt stimulation and glucose uptake.

Insulin resistance in skeletal muscle is one of the earliest symptoms associated with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and nonesterified fatty acids have been proposed to be crucial factors in the development of the insulin-resistant state. We here show that, although TNF downregulated insulin-induced insulin receptor (IR) and IR substrate (IRS)-1 phosphorylation as well as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activity in pmi28 myotubes, this was, unlike in adipocytes, not sufficient to affect insulin-induced glucose transport. Rather, TNF increased membrane expression of GLUT1 and glucose transport in these muscle cells. In contrast, the nonesterified fatty acid palmitate inhibited insulin-induced signalling cascades not only at the level of IR and IRS-1 phosphorylation, but also at the level protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), which is thought to be directly involved in the insulin-induced translocation of GLUT4, and inhibited insulin-induced glucose uptake. Palmitate also abrogated TNF-dependent enhancement of basal glucose uptake, suggesting that palmitate has the capacity to render muscle cells resistant not only to insulin but also to TNF with respect to glucose transport by GLUT4 and GLUT1, respectively. Our data illustrate the complexity of the mechanisms governing insulin resistance of skeletal muscle, questioning the role of TNF as a direct inhibitor of glucose homoeostasis in this tissue and shedding new light on an as yet unrecognized multifunctional role for the predominant nonesterified fatty acid palmitate in this process.

Insulin selectively activates STAT5b, but not STAT5a, via a JAK2-independent signalling pathway in Kym-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells.

The STAT multigene family of transcriptional regulators conveys signals from several cytokines and growth factors upon phosphorylation by janus kinases (JAK). Activation of STAT5 is typically mediated by JAK2, but more recent data indicate a direct activation by the insulin receptor kinase. STAT5 exists in two closely homologous isoforms, STAT5a and b. We here describe the selective tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5b in Kym-1 cells in response to insulin. Blocking insulin signalling by HNMPA-(AM)(3), an insulin receptor kinase inhibitor, resulted in the loss of insulin-induced STAT5b tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas the inhibition of JAK2 by the JAK selective inhibitor tyrphostin AG490 had no effect. By contrast, in the same cells, IFNgamma-induced STAT5b activation was JAK2-dependent, indicating that this signal pathway is functional in Kym-1 cells. We conclude from this rhabdomyosarcoma model that STAT5b, but not STAT5a is a direct target of the insulin receptor kinase.

TNF inhibits insulin induced STAT5 activation in differentiated mouse muscle cells pmi28.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a central role in the state of insulin resistance leading to type II diabetes. We here describe the crosstalk of TNF with insulin signaling cascades in the mouse muscle cell line pmi28. TNF downregulated insulin induced insulin receptor kinase activity and insulin induced activation of the transcription factor STAT5. Our results provide evidence that the inhibitory crosstalk between TNF and insulin in skeletal muscle cells comprises an interference with the expression of STAT5 regulated genes which may play an important role in the manifestation and/or progression of insulin resistance in muscle cells.

Tumor necrosis factor induces ceramide oscillations and negatively controls sphingolipid synthases by caspases in apoptotic Kym-1 cells.

The role, origin, and mode of action of the lipid messenger ceramide in programmed cell death and its linkage to receptor-associated apoptotic signal proteins is still unresolved. We show here in Kym-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis is preceded by a multiphasic increase in intracellular ceramide levels. Distinct enzymes were found to contribute to three waves of ceramide, neutral sphingomyelinase, ceramide synthase, and acid sphingomyelinase, with peak activities at 1-2, 40, and around 200 min, respectively, the latter coinciding with progression to irreversible damage. In parallel with ceramide generation, TNF-mediated inhibition of glucosylceramide and sphingomyelin (SM) synthase prevents the immediate metabolization of this lipid mediator. In the presence of benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-fmk) or benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-chloromethyl ketone (Z-DEVD-cmk), a broad spectrum and a caspase 3-selective inhibitor, respectively, glucosylceramide and SM synthase activity remains unaffected by TNF, and intracellular ceramide accumulation is not observed. Our results show that several lipid enzymes contribute to generation of ceramide in response to TNF and identify glucosylceramide and SM synthase as important regulators of the kinetics and magnitude of intracellular ceramide accumulation. As glucosylceramide and SM synthase activity is caspase-sensitive, our data suggest a novel functional link between caspase(s) and ceramide during apoptotic processes.

Regulation of Raf-1 kinase by TNF via its second messenger ceramide and cross-talk with mitogenic signalling.

Raf-1 kinase is a central regulator of mitogenic signal pathways, whereas its general role in signal transduction of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is less well defined. We have investigated mechanisms of Raf-1 regulation by TNF and its messenger ceramide in cell-free assays, insect and mammalian cell lines. In vitro, ceramide specifically bound to the purified catalytic domain and enhanced association with activated Ras proteins, but did not affect the kinase activity of Raf-1. Cell-permeable ceramides induced a marked increase of Ras-Raf-1 complexes in cells co-expressing Raf-1 and activated Ras. Likewise, a fast elevation of the endogeneous ceramide level, induced by TNF treatment of human Kym-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells, was followed by stimulation of Ras-Raf-1 association without significant Raf-1 kinase activation. Failure of TNF or ceramide to induce Raf-1 kinase was observed in several TNF-responsive cell lines. Both TNF and exogeneous C6-ceramide interfered with the mitogenic activation of Raf-1 and ERK by epidermal growth factor and down-regulated v-Src-induced Raf-1 kinase activity. TNF also induced the translocation of Raf-1 from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction, indicating that this negative regulatory cross-talk occurs at the cell membrane. Interference with mitogenic signals at the level of Raf-1 could be an important initial step in TNF's cytostatic action.