Construction of a novel cell-based assay for the evaluation of anti-EGFR drug efficacy against EGFR mutation.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression and EGFR-mediated signaling pathway dysregulation have been observed in tumors from patients with various cancers, especially non-small cell lung cancer. Thus, several anti-EGFR drugs have been developed for cancer therapy. For patients with known EGFR activating mutations (EGFR exon 19 in-frame deletions and exon 21 L858R substitution), treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI; gefitinib, erlotinib or afatinib) represents standard first-line therapy. However, the clinical efficacy of these TKIs is ultimately limited by the development of acquired drug resistance such as by mutation of the gatekeeper T790 residue (T790M). To overcome this acquired drug resistance and develop novel anti-EGFR drugs, a cell-based assay system for EGFR TKI resistance mutant-selective inhibitors is required. We constructed a novel cell-based assay for the evaluation of EGFR TKI efficacy against EGFR mutation. To this end, we established non-tumorigenic immortalized breast epithelial cells that proliferate dependent on EGF (MCF 10A cells), which stably overexpress mutant EGFR. We found that the cells expressing EGFR containing the T790M mutation showed higher resistance against gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib compared with cells expressing wild-type EGFR. In contrast, L858R mutant-expressing cells exhibited higher TKI sensitivity. The effect of T790M-selective inhibitors (osimertinib and rociletinib) on T790M mutant-expressing cells was significantly higher than gefitinib and erlotinib. Finally, when compared with commercially available isogenic MCF 10A cell lines carrying introduced mutations in EGFR, our EGFR mutant-overexpressing cells exhibited obviously higher responsiveness to EGFR TKIs depending on the underlying mutations because of the higher levels of EGFR phosphorylation in the EGFR mutant-overexpressing cells than in the isogenic cell lines. In conclusion, we successfully developed a novel cell-based assay for evaluating the efficacy of anti-EGFR drugs against EGFR mutation.

Cadmium induces phosphorylation and stabilization of c-Fos in HK-2 renal proximal tubular cells.

We examined the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) exposure on the expression and phosphorylation status of members of the Fos family, components of the activator protein-1 transcription factor, in HK-2 human renal proximal tubular cells. Following the exposure to CdCl2, the expression of c-fos, fosB, fra-1, and fra-2 increased markedly, with different magnitudes and time courses. The levels of Fos family proteins (c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1, and Fra-2) also increased in response to CdCl2 exposure. Although the elevation of c-fos transcripts was transient, c-Fos protein levels increased progressively with lower electrophoretic mobility, suggesting stabilization of c-Fos through post-translational modifications. Consistently, we observed phosphorylation of c-Fos at Ser362 and Ser374 in HK-2 cells treated with CdCl2. Phosphorylated forms of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)-including extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38-increased after CdCl2 exposure, whereas treatment with the MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 and the p38 inhibitor SB203580 suppressed the accumulation and phosphorylation of c-Fos. We mutated Ser362 to alanine (S362A), Ser374 to alanine (S374A), and both residues to alanines (S362A/S374A) to inhibit potential phosphorylation of c-Fos at these sites. S374A or double S362A/S374A mutations reduced c-Fos level markedly, but S362A mutation did not. On the other hand, S362A/S374A mutations induced a more pronounced reduction in c-Fos DNA-binding activity than S374A mutation. These results suggest that while Ser374 phosphorylation seems to play a role in c-Fos stabilization, phosphorylation at two C-terminal serine residues is required for the transcriptional activation of c-Fos in HK-2 cells treated with CdCl2.

Insulin modulates induction of glucose-regulated protein 78 during endoplasmic reticulum stress via augmentation of ATF4 expression in human neuroblastoma cells.

The effect of insulin on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was investigated. Insulin protected cell death induced by ER stress and increased glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) mRNA and protein levels. Insulin also significantly increased activating transcription factor-4 (ATF4) protein in the nucleus, which was inhibited by LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase) inhibitor. The increase of ATF4 protein by insulin was not due to transcriptional or translational up-regulation but to a post-translational mechanism. Knockdown of ATF4 by siRNA significantly inhibited GRP78 induction by insulin. These results indicate that insulin modulated ER stress-induced GRP78 expression occurs via ATF4 up-regulation.

Induction of GADD153 expression by tributyltin in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.

The effects of tributyltin (TBT) exposure on the expression of growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (GADD153), also called C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), were examined in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. In response to TBT exposure, the levels of both GADD153 mRNA and GADD153 protein increased significantly. This effect was preceded by phosphorylation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). Treatment with the JNK inhibitor, SP600125, markedly suppressed TBT-induced GADD153 expression. TBT may induce the expression of GADD153, a gene highly responsive to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in a manner at least partially dependent upon the JNK pathway in SH-SY5Y cells.

Phosphorylation of p53 at serine 15 in A549 pulmonary epithelial cells exposed to vanadate: involvement of ATM pathway.

When A549 cells were exposed to sodium metavanadate (NaVO(3)), the pentavalent species of vanadium (vanadate), phosphorylation of p53 protein at Ser15 was found in a time (8-48 h)- and dose (10-200 microM)-dependent manner. After the incubation with 50 or 100 microM NaVO(3) for 48 h, accumulation of p53 protein was accompanied with Ser15 phosphorylation. Among serines in p53 protein immunoprecipitated from A549 cells treated with 100 microM NaVO(3) for 48 h, only Ser15 was markedly phosphorylated. Treatment with other vanadate compounds, sodium orthovanadate (Na(3)VO(4)) and ammonium metavanadate (NH(4)VO(3)), also induced Ser15 phosphorylation and accumulation of p53 protein. While phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) was found in cells treated with NaVO(3), treatment with U0126 did not suppress Ser15 phosphorylation. On the other hand, treatment with wortmannin or caffeine, the inhibitors to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase related kinases (PIKKs), suppressed both NaVO(3)-induced Ser15 phosphorylation and accumulation of p53 protein. The silencing of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) expression using short-interference RNA resulted in the marked suppression of Ser15 phosphorylation in A549 cells exposed to NaVO(3). However, treatment with antioxidants such as catalase and N-acetylcysteine did not suppress NaVO(3)-induced Ser15 phosphorylation. Transcriptional activation of p53 and DNA fragmentation in A549 cells treated with NaVO(3) were suppressed only slightly by S15A mutation, suggesting that Ser15 phosphorylation is not essential for these responses. The present results showed that vanadate induces the phosphorylation of p53 at Ser15 depending on ATM, one of the members of PIKK family, in this human pulmonary epithelial cell line.

Phosphorylation of Stats at Ser727 in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells exposed to cadmium.

The effects of cadmium exposure on serine phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stats) and an upstream kinase were examined in renal proximal tubular cells. In porcine LLC-PK1 cells treated with cadmium, Stat1 and Stat3 proteins were phosphorylated at Ser727 without changing total Stat protein levels. While phosphorylated forms of the members of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) increased in response to cadmium exposure, treatment with a p38 inhibitor, SB203580 reduced Ser727 phosphorylation of Stat1 and Stat3 markedly in LLC-PK1 cells. The expression of human matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), a Stats-inducible gene, was found to be up-regulated in human HK-2 cells exposed to cadmium, and suppressed by preincubation with SB203580. These results suggest that cadmium might induce the phosphorylation of Stat1 and Stat3 at Ser727 via the p38 pathway at least in part, and modulate gene expression in these proximal tubular cells.

Cadmium induces the expression of Grp78, an endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone, in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells.

To reveal the effects of cadmium exposure on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, we examined the expression and function of 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (Grp78) , an ER-resident molecular chaperone, in LLC-PK1 cells. In cells treated with 10 microM cadmium chloride, Grp78 protein levels increased after 6 hr and remained elevated at 24 hr. When cells were incubated with 1-20 microM CdCl2 for 6 hr, Grp78 increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Grp78 mRNA levels were elevated in response to CdCl2 exposure. After exposure to 10 microM CdCl2, the levels of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) were increased at 2 hr, with a further enhancement after that ; this accumulation followed the transient but marked phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2(alpha)) on serine 51. Although ATF4 mRNA levels increased mildly by CdCl2 exposure, treatment with actinomycin D did not suppress CdCl2-induced accumulation of ATF4 protein, suggesting the involvement of posttranscriptional and, in part, transcriptional mechanisms. Compared with other heavy-metal compounds such as manganese chloride, zinc chloride, mercuric chloride, and lead chloride, CdCl2 could increase the levels of Grp78, ATF4, and the phosphorylated form of eIF2(alpha) more markedly without definite cellular damage. The silencing of Grp78 expression using short-interference RNA enhanced CdCl2-induced cellular damage. These results show that cadmium induces the expression of Grp78 probably via phosphorylation of eIF2(alpha) and resultant translation of ATF4, and this ER stress response plays a role in protection against cadmium cytotoxicity in this renal epithelial cell.

Genetic variations in humans associated with differences in the course of hepatitis C.

The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection varies among individuals, but the genetic factors involved remain unknown. We conducted a population-based association study in which 238 Japanese individuals positive for anti-HCV antibody were genotyped for 269 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 103 candidate genes that might influence the course of infection. Altogether, 50 SNPs in 32 genes were listed. Genetic polymorphisms in IL4, IL8RB, IL10RA, PRL, ADA, NFKB1, GRAP2, CABIN1, IFNAR2, IFI27, IFI41, TNFRSF1A, ALDOB, AP1B1, SULT2B1, EGF, EGFR, TGFB1, LTBP2, and CD4 were associated with persistent viremia (P < 0.05), whereas those in IL1B, IL1RL1, IL2RB, IL12RB1, IL18R1, STAT5A, GRAP2, CABIN1, IFNAR1, Mx1, BMP8, FGL1, LTBP2, CD34, and CD80 were associated with different serum alanine aminotransferase levels in HCV carriers (P < 0.05). The sorted genes allow us to draw novel hypotheses for future studies of HCV infection to ultimately identify bona fide genes and their variations.

Large-scale search of SNPs for type 2 DM susceptibility genes in a Japanese population.

The etiology of type 2 diabetes (DM) is polygenic. We investigated here genes and polymorphisms that associate with DM in the Japanese population. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 398 derived from 120 candidate genes were examined for association with DM in a population-based case-control study. The study group consisted of 148 cases and 227 controls recruited from Funagata, Japan. No evident subpopulation structure was detected for the tested population. The association tests were conducted with standard allele positivity tables (chi(2) tests) between SNP genotype frequency and case-control status. The independent association of the SNPs from serum triglyceride levels and body mass index was examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. A value of P<0.01 was accepted as statistically significant. Six genes (met proto-oncogene, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, fatty acid binding protein 2, LDL receptor defect C complementing, aldolase B, and sulfonylurea receptor) were shown to be associated with DM.

Inward rectifier K+ channel Kir2.3 is localized at the postsynaptic membrane of excitatory synapses.

Classical inwardly rectifying K+ channels (Kir2.0) are responsible for maintaining the resting membrane potential near the K+ equilibrium potential in various cells, including neurons. Although Kir2.3 is known to be expressed abundantly in the forebrain, its precise localization has not been identified. Using an antibody specific to Kir2.3, we examined the subcellular localization of Kir2.3 in mouse brain. Kir2.3 immunoreactivity was detected in a granular pattern in restricted areas of the brain, including the olfactory bulb (OB). Immunoelectron microscopy of the OB revealed that Kir2.3 immunoreactivity was specifically clustered on the postsynaptic membrane of asymmetric synapses between granule cells and mitral/tufted cells. The immunoprecipitants for Kir2.3 obtained from brain contained PSD-95 and chapsyn-110, PDZ domain-containing anchoring proteins. In vitro binding assay further revealed that the COOH-terminal end of Kir2.3 is responsible for the association with these anchoring proteins. Therefore, the Kir channel may be involved in formation of the resting membrane potential of the spines and, thus, would affect the response of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor channels at the excitatory postsynaptic membrane.