DNA methylation paradigm shift: 15-lipoxygenase-1 upregulation in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer by atypical promoter hypermethylation.

Fifteen (15)-lipoxygenase type 1 (15-LO-1, ALOX15), a highly regulated, tissue- and cell-type-specific lipid-peroxidating enzyme has several functions ranging from physiological membrane remodeling, pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, inflammation and carcinogenesis. Several of our findings support a possible role for 15-LO-1 in prostate cancer (PCa) tumorigenesis. In the present study, we identified a CpG island in the 15-LO-1 promoter and demonstrate that the methylation status of a specific CpG within this island region is associated with transcriptional activation or repression of the 15-LO-1 gene. High levels of 15-LO-1 expression was exclusively correlated with one of the CpG dinucleotides within the 15-LO-1 promoter in all examined PCa cell-lines expressing 15-LO-1 mRNA. We examined the methylation status of this specific CpG in microdissected high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), PCa, metastatic human prostate tissues, normal prostate cell lines and human donor (normal) prostates. Methylation of this CpG correlated with HGPIN, PCa and metastatic human prostate tissues, while this CpG was unmethylated in all of the normal prostate cell lines and human donor (normal) prostates that either did not display or had minimal basal 15-LO-1 expression. Immunohistochemistry for 15-LO-1 was performed in prostates from PCa patients with Gleason scores 6, 7 [(4+3) and (3+4)], >7 with metastasis, (8-10) and 5 normal (donor) individual males. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect 15-LO-1 in PrEC, RWPE-1, BPH-1, DU-145, LAPC-4, LNCaP, MDAPCa2b and PC-3 cell lines. The specific methylated CpG dinucleotide within the CpG island of the 15-LO-1 promoter was identified by bisulfite sequencing from these cell lines. The methylation status was determined by COBRA analyses of one specific CpG dinucleotide within the 15-LO-1 promoter in these cell lines and in prostates from patients and normal individuals. Fifteen-LO-1, GSTPi and beta-actin mRNA expression in BPH-1, LNCaP and MDAPCa2b cell lines with or without 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) and trichostatin-A (TSA) treatment were investigated by qRT-PCR. Complete or partial methylation of 15-LO-1 promoter was observed in all PCa patients but the normal donor prostates showed significantly less or no methylation. Exposure of LNCAP and MDAPCa2b cell lines to 5-aza-dC and TSA resulted in the downregulation of 15-LO-1 gene expression. Our results demonstrate that 15-LO-1 promoter methylation is frequently present in PCa patients and identify a new role for epigenetic phenomenon in PCa wherein hypermethylation of the 15-LO-1 promoter leads to the upregulation of 15-LO-1 expression and enzyme activity contributes to PCa initiation and progression.

Overexpression of 15-lipoxygenase-1 in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells increases tumorigenesis.

The effect of overexpression of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1) was studied in the human prostate cancer cell line, PC-3. Stable PC-3 cell lines were generated by transfection with 15-LO-1-sense (15-LOS), 15-LO-1-antisense (15-LOAS) or vector (Zeo) and selection with Zeocin. After characterization by RT-PCR, western and HPLC, a PC3-15LOS clone was selected that possessed 10-fold 15-LO-1 enzyme activity compared with parental PC-3 cells. The PC3-15LOAS clone displayed little or no 15-LO-1 activity. These PC-3 cell lines were characterized for properties of tumorigenesis. The proliferation rates of the cell lines were as follows: PC3-15LOS > PC-3 = PC3-Zeo > PC3-15LOAS. Addition of a specific 15-LO-1 inhibitor, PD146176, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in vitro. Overexpression of 15-LO-1 also caused [(3)H]thymidine incorporation to increase by 4.0-fold (P < 0.01). Compared with parental and PC-3-Zeo cells, PC3-15LOS enhanced whereas PC3-15LOAS reduced the ability of PC-3 cells to grow in an anchorage-independent manner, as assessed by colony formation in soft agar. These data suggested a pro-tumorigenic role for 15-LO-1 in PC-3 cells in vitro. Therefore, to clarify the role of 15-LO-1 in vivo, the effect of 15-LO-1 expression on the growth of tumors in nude mice was investigated. The PC-3 cell lines were inoculated subcutaneously into athymic nude mice. The frequency of tumor formation was increased and the sizes of the tumors formed were much larger in the PC3-15LOS compared with PC3-15LOAS, parental PC-3 and PC-3-Zeo cells. Immunohistochemistry for 15-LO-1 confirmed expression throughout the duration of the experiment. The expression of factor VIII, an angiogenesis marker, in tumor sections was increased in tumors derived from PC3-15LOS cells and decreased in those from PC3-15LOAS cells compared with tumors from parental or Zeo cells. These data further supported the evaluation by ELISA of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion by PC-3 cells in culture. Secretion of this angiogenic factor was elevated in PC3-15LOS cells compared with the other cell lines. These results support a role for 15-LO-1 in a novel growth-promoting pathway in the prostate.

Expression of 15-lipoxygenase-1 is regulated by histone acetylation in human colorectal carcinoma.

15-Lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1) is expressed at higher levels in human colorectal tumors compared with normal tissue. 15-LO-1 is expressed in cultured human colorectal cells, but only after treatment with sodium butyrate (NaBT), which also stimulates apoptosis and cell differentiation. We examined the regulation of 15-LO-1 in human tissue and the colorectal carcinoma cell lines Caco-2 and SW-480 by treatment with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors: NaBT, trichostatin A (TSA) and HC toxin. Northern and western analysis showed that expression of 15-LO-1 was up-regulated by these HDAC inhibitors. Furthermore, HDAC inhibitors stimulated promoter activity of the 15-LO-1 gene approximately 12-to 21-fold using the -331/-23 region of the 15-LO-1 promoter, as measured with a luciferase-15-LO-1 promoter-reporter system, suggesting that 15-LO-1 is regulated at the transcriptional level by HDAC inhibitors. Histone proteins in colorectal cells were acetylated after treatment with HDAC inhibitors. Histone acetylation was also measured in human colorectal tissue and a correlation was observed between increased histone acetylation and 15-LO-1 expression. Thus, regulation of 15-LO-1 expression in colorectal tissues appears to occur by a novel and new mechanism associated with histone acetylation. Moreover, these results suggest that 15-LO-1 is a marker that reflects histone acetylation in colorectal carcinoma.

Concordant induction of 15-lipoxygenase-1 and mutant p53 expression in human prostate adenocarcinoma: correlation with Gleason staging.

We recently reported that the mutant form of the tumor-suppressor gene p53 up-regulates 15-LO-1 gene expression in a murine cell line. Here, we examine the expression of 15-lipoxygenase (LO)-1 and mutant p53 (mtp53) in human prostatic tissues and 15-LO-1 in the human prostate adenocarcinoma cell line PC-3. Reverse transcription-PCR and western analyses conclusively demonstrated expression of 15-LO-1 in PC-3 cells. Western blotting for 15-LO-1 in freshly resected 'normal' and prostate adenocarcinoma specimens showed 15-LO-1 expression in normal tissue, but significantly higher levels were detected in prostate adenocarcinomas. Prostate adenocarcinoma tissues generated chirally pure 13-S-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid from exogenous linoleic acid, a preferred substrate of 15-LO-1. To study the correlation of 15-LO-1 expression with mtp53 in prostate cancer, we immunostained 48 prostatectomy specimens obtained by transurethral resection of the prostate and needle biopsy (median age 68 years, range 52-93) of different Gleason grades (n = 48), using antibodies specific for 15-LO-1, mtp53 and MIB-1 (a proliferation marker). We compared staining in cancerous foci with adjacent normal appearing prostate tissues. In only 5 of 48 patients did 'normal' tissue adjacent to cancerous foci display staining for 15-LO-1. However, no staining for mtp53 was observed in any of the normal tissues. In cancer foci, robust staining was observed for both 15-LO-1 (36 of 48, 75%) and mtp53 (19 of 48, 39%). Furthermore, the intensities of expression of 15-LO-1 and mtp53 correlated positively with each other (P < 0.001) and with the degree of malignancy, as assessed by Gleason grading (P < 0.01). By immunohistochemistry, 15-LO-1 was located in secretory cells of peripheral zone glands, prostatic ducts and seminal vesicles, but not in the basal cell layer or stroma. Based on these and other studies, we propose a model describing a possible role for 15-LO-1 expression in influencing the malignant potential and pathobiological behavior of adenocarcinomas.

A GATA binding site is involved in the regulation of 15-lipoxygenase-1 expression in human colorectal carcinoma cell line, caco-2.

The data presented implicate a GATA binding site in the transcriptional regulation of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1) gene expression in human colorectal carcinoma Caco-2 cells. High expression of GATA-6 mRNA and protein was observed, while GATA-4 mRNA was expressed at a very low level in Caco-2 cells. The expression of GATA-6 was down-regulated, while 15-LO-1 expression was dramatically up-regulated after treatment with sodium butyrate (NaBT). A study using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that a GATA binding site of the 15-LO-1 promoter region binds to GATA proteins present in both undifferentiated and, to a lesser extent, NaBT-treated (differentiated) Caco-2 cells. Moreover, that DNA binding shift band was disrupted after the addition of GATA-6 antibody in a supershift assay in the absence of NaBT, suggesting that GATA-6 is bound to the GATA binding site of the 15-LO-1 promoter in undifferentiated cells. In contrast, the addition of GATA-6 antibody did not affect the DNA binding ability in NaBT-induced differentiated cells. On the other hand, mutation of the GATA site of the 15-LO-1 promoter decreased the transactivation of the 15-LO-1 promoter as measured by luciferase activity in both FBS and NaBT cultured cells, indicating an unknown GATA binding protein to up-regulate 15-LO-1 expression. These implicate the GATA site at -240 of the proximal region of the 15-LO-1 promoter in the basic transcription of 15-LO-1 gene expression in Caco-2 cells, with GATA-6 acting to repress 15-LO-1 expression.

Ku autoantigen (DNA helicase) is required for interleukins-13/-4-induction of 15-lipoxygenase-1 gene expression in human epithelial cells.

As reported previously in human monocytes, a human lung epithelial cell line, A549, showed de novo induction of 15-Lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1) in response to interleukins-13 (IL-13) and -4 (IL-4). In this cell line, 15-LO-1 expression, by RT-PCR and western blotting, was observed following 6 and 24 h of exposure to human IL-13 (ED50 5 ng/ml) and IL-4 (ED50 0.2 ng/ml). We have previously shown that no cis-acting regulatory elements exist within the 15-LO-1 promoter region. To define IL-13 and IL-4 responsive trans-acting elements, we identified a region (DP2: -353 to -304 bp site) within the 15-LO-1 promoter (by footprinting experiments) to which IL-13-responsive elements (or factors) bind specifically (Kelavkar et al, 1998, Mol Biol Rep 25, 173-182). To further delineate this region, we constructed (by site-directed mutagenesis) several deletion mutants in the 'LOPB5' region containing the 29 bp within the -353 to -304 bp of the DP2 core element. These were: DP3 (site totally deleted), DP4 (5 bp deleted at the center of the site), DP5 (8 bp at the 5'-end of the site) and DP6 (13 bp at the 3'-end of the site). Cotransfection of these deletion constructs (driving luciferase reporter genes) was associated with 90% (DP4, DP5 and DP6) or 100% (DP3) abrogation of promoter activity at 24 h. Purification of nuclear protein extracts from IL-13 and IL-4-stimulated A549 cells, using a DP2 core containing affinity column, identified a 150 kDa protein under non-denaturing conditions, and two, 70 and 85 kDa proteins under denaturing conditions. These were not detectable by Coomassie blue staining in control nuclear protein extracts. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of the tryptic digests of these proteins, identified one as the 86 kDA Lupus KU autoantigen protein P86 and the second as the 70 kDa Lupus KU autoantigen protein P70. Gel shift and supershift experiments using monoclonal antibodies toward Ku antigen and its individual subunits, and utilizing DP2 and other mutant oligonucleotides with purified nuclear protein extracts from control and cytokine-treated A549 cells, confirmed our findings. Furthermore, electroporation of neutralizing anti-Ku70, Ku 80 and Ku70/80 antibodies into A549 cells totally suppressed IL-13 and IL-4-stimulated 15-LO-1 induction in these cells. Further, immunoprecipitation experiments data suggests that IL-4 and IL-13 activate Ku antigens and 15-LO-1 expression through distinct signaling events. In summary, in A549 cells, Ku antigen is induced in response to the cytokines, IL-13 and -4, and a 29 bp region within the -353 to -304 bp region of the 15-LO-1 promoter is required for its binding and subsequent induction of 15-LO-1 gene expression. The findings may provide an important link between the established dysregulated function of Ku antigen in auto-immune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and thyroiditis, and the increasingly recognized 'anti-inflammatory' role of 15-LO-1.

Effects of mutant p53 expression on human 15-lipoxygenase-promoter activity and murine 12/15-lipoxygenase gene expression: evidence that 15-lipoxygenase is a mutator gene.

Human 15-lipoxygenase (h15-LO) is present on chromosome 17p13.3 in close proximity to the tumor-suppressor gene, p53. 15-LO is implicated in antiinflammation, membrane remodeling, and cancer development/metastasis. The murine BALB/c embryo fibroblast cell line, (10)1val, expresses p53 in mutant (mt) conformation when grown at 39 degrees C and in wild-type conformation when grown at 32 degrees C. Transfection of h15-LO promoter constructs (driving luciferase reporter) into (10)1val cells and into p53-deficient (10)1 cells resulted in a marked increase in h15-LO promoter activity in (10)1val cells at 39 degrees C, but not at 32 degrees C, or as compared with (10)1 cells. Transfection of h15-LO promoter deletion constructs, however, resulted in total loss of activity in both cell types at 32 degrees C and 39 degrees C. Cotransfection of (10)1 cells with h15-LO promoter (driving luciferase reporter) along with increasing levels of a mt p53 expression vector demonstrated dose-dependent capacity of mt p53 to induce 15-LO promoter activity. No effect was observed with wild-type p53. In contrast to h15-LO promoter activity, (10)1val cells had significantly lower levels of endogenous (murine) 12/15-LO (mouse analog of h15-LO) mRNA and protein when grown at 39 degrees C compared with cells grown at 32 degrees C. Our data support the hypothesis that loss of a tumor-suppressor gene (p53), or "gain-of-function activities" resulting from the expression of its mutant forms, regulates 15-LO promoter activity in man and in mouse, albeit in directionally opposite manners. The studies define a direct link between 15-LO activity and an established tumor-suppressor gene located in close chromosomal proximity.

Relations of enzymes inAspergillus repens grown under sodium chloride stress.

Aspergillus repens, a salt-pan isolate, was halotolerant. When grown for 72 h (log phase) and 144 h (beginning of stationary phase) in a medium containing 2M sodium chloride, the activities of invertase, malate dehydrogenase (MDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) were found to have increased. Control cultures grown in a medium devoid of 2M NaCl failed to show such changes. The activities of MDH, G6PDH, and GDH increased with rising concentrations of Na(+) (as NaCl) when added up to 100MM in vitro. At higher concentrations they decreased. Changes in kinetic constants, Km and Vmax of these enzymes, as well as their de novo synthesis, were found to be some of the responses to NaCl stress-mediated changes.

Polyol concentrations in Aspergillus repens grown under salt stress.

Na(+), K(+) and the ratio of Na(+)/K(+) were higher in cells of the halotolerant Aspergillus repens grown with 2 M NaCl than without NaCl. The osmolytes, proline, glycerol, betaine and glutamate, did not affect the Na(+)/K(+) ratio, nor the polyol content of cells under any conditions. The concentrations of polyols, consisting of glycerol, arabitol, erythritol and mannitol, changed markedly during growth, indicating that they have a crucial role in osmotic adaptation.