Cathepsin K in the bone microenvironment: link between obesity and prostate cancer?

The skeleton is the most common site of metastasis in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Despite many advances in targeting skeletal metastases, the mechanisms behind the attraction of prostate cancer cells to the bone are not known. Osteoclast cathepsin K, due to its ability to effectively degrade bone matrix collagen I, has been implicated in colonization and growth of prostate tumours in the bone. Identification of new cathepsin K substrates in the bone microenvironment and the recent findings demonstrating its involvement in obesity and inflammation suggest additional roles for this enzyme in skeletal metastases of prostate cancer.

Expression of cathepsins B, D and L in mouse corneas infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

C57BL/6J naïve and immunized mice were intracorneally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect cathepsin gene expression and the results were further confirmed by immunoblot analysis. The enzymatic activities of cathepsins B, D and L were measured by peptidase assays. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out to localize the expression of the cathepsins. Cathepsins B, D and L were detected in the normal cornea by RT-PCR. A peptidase assay revealed activities of all three cathepsins under normal physiological conditions. In naïve mice, enzymatic activities of cathepsins B, D and L were all significantly enhanced when the corneas were infected with P. aeruginosa and the peak of the induction appeared around day 6 postinfection. Immunoblot analysis showed increased expression of cathepsins B, D and L. The infected corneal samples from immunized mice exhibited much lower induction of enzymatic activities compared to those from naïve mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of cathepsins in the normal cornea was restricted to the epithelial tissue while the induced expression of cathepsins was predominantly in the substantia propria. Our data revealed up-regulated enzymatic activities of cathepsins B, D and L in the naïve corneas infected with P. aeruginosa, which correlated well with the inflammatory response. Immunization of mice against P. aeruginosa attenuated the inducing effect on cathepsin expression caused by infection. The time sequence for induction of cathepsin proteins and enzymatic activities suggests a mechanism of host proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix resulting in corneal destruction after P. aeruginosa infection.

Rac1-induced endocytosis is associated with intracellular proteolysis during migration through a three-dimensional matrix.

Transfection of Rat1 fibroblasts with an activated form of rac1 (V12rac1) stimulated cell migration in vitro compared to transfection of Rat1 fibroblasts with vector only or with dominant negative rac1 (N17rac1). To investigate the involvement of proteases in this migration, we used a novel confocal assay to evaluate the ability of the Rat1 transfectants to degrade a quenched fluorescent protein substrate (DQ-green bovine serum albumin) embedded in a three-dimensional gelatin matrix. Cleavage of the substrate results in fluorescence, thus enabling one to image extracellular and intracellular proteolysis by living cells. The Rat1 transfectants accumulated degraded substrate intracellularly. V12rac1 increased accumulation of the fluorescent product in vesicles that also labeled with the lysosomal marker LysoTracker. Treatment of the V12rac1-transfected cells with membrane-permeable inhibitors of lysosomal cysteine proteases and a membrane-permeable selective inhibitor of the cysteine protease cathepsin B significantly reduced intracellular accumulation of degraded substrate, indicating that degradation occurred intracellularly. V12rac1 stimulated uptake of dextran 70 (a marker of macropinocytosis) and polystyrene beads (markers of phagocytosis) into vesicles that also labeled for cathepsin B. Thus, stimulation of the endocytic pathways of macropinocytosis and phagocytosis by activated Rac1 may be responsible for the increased internalization and subsequent degradation of extracellular proteins.

Fluorescent microplate assay for cancer cell-associated cathepsin B.

Cathepsin B and in particular cell-surface and secreted cathepsin B has been implicated in the invasive and metastatic phenotype of numerous types of cancer. We describe here a method to easily survey cancer cell lines for cathepsin B activity using the highly selective substrate Z-Arg-Arg-AMC. Intact human U87 glioma cells hydrolyze Z-Arg-Arg-AMC with a Km of 460 microM at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C. This is nearly the same as the Km of 430 microM obtained with purified cathepsin B assayed under the same conditions. The pericellular (i.e. both cell-surface and released) cathepsin B activity was inhibited by the cysteine protease inhibitors E-64, leupeptin, Mu-Np2-HphVS-2Np, Mu-Leu-HpHVSPh and the cathepsin B selective inhibitor Mu-Tyr(3,5 I2)-HphVSPh with IC50 values similar to those observed for the inhibition of purified human liver cathepsin B. Other human cancer cell lines with measurable pericellular cathepsin B activity included HT-1080 fibrosarcoma, MiaPaCa pancreatic, PC-3 prostate and HCT-116 colon. Cathepsin B activity correlated with protein levels of cathepsin B as determined by immunoblot analysis. Pericellular cathepsin B activity was also detected in the rat cell lines MatLyLu prostate and Mat B III adenocarcinoma and in the murine lines B16a melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma. The ability to determine pericellular cathepsin B activity will be useful in selecting appropriate cell lines for use in vivo when analyzing the effects of inhibiting cathepsin B activity on tumor growth and metastasis.

Exocytosis of active cathepsin B enzyme activity at pH 7.0, inhibition and molecular mass.

Lysosomal cathepsin B has been implicated in parasitic, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Most of these pathologies suggest a role for cathepsin B outside the cells, although the origin of extracellular active enzyme is not well defined. The activity of extracellular cathepsin B is difficult to assess because of the presence of inhibitors and inactivation of the enzyme by oxidizing agents. Therefore, we have developed a continuous assay for measurement of cathepsin B activity produced pericellularly by living cells. The kinetic rate of Z-Arg-Arg-NHMec conversion was monitored and the assay optimized for enzyme stability, cell viability and sensitivity. To validate the assay, we determined that human liver cathepsin B was stable and active under the conditions of the assay and its activity could be inhibited by the selective epoxide derivative CA-074. Via this assay, we were able to demonstrate that active cathepsin B was secreted pericellularly by viable cells. Both preneoplastic and malignant cells secreted active cathepsin B. Pretreatment of cells with the membrane-permeant proinhibitor CA-074Me completely abolished pericellular and total cathepsin B activity whereas pretreatment with the active drug CA-074 had no effect. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting experiments suggested that the active enzyme species was 31-kDa single-chain cathepsin B. Exocytosis of cathepsin B was not related to secretion of proenzyme or secretion from mature lysosomes. Our results suggest an alternative pathway for exocytosis of active cathepsin B.

Differential tyrosyl-phosphorylation of multiple mitogen-activated protein kinase isoforms in response to prolactin in Nb2 lymphoma cells.

Prolactin (PRL) stimulates mitogenesis and differentiative processes in a variety of cell types. Not all of the molecules involved in PRL signaling, which follows an initial PRL-receptor interaction, have been identified. In the present studies, PRL is shown to stimulate the differential tyrosyl phosphorylation of three isoforms (ERK-1, 2, and 4) of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinase) in a rat pre-T lymphoma cell line (Nb2). Evidence also suggests that PRL stimulates the tyrosyl phosphorylation of ERK-3, a MAP kinase isoform recently identified. When G1-arrested Nb2 cells are treated with 50 ng/ml oPRL, ERK-1 through 3 become tyrosyl phosphorylated within minutes (an indication of enzyme activation) and then become dephosphorylated within 30 min. Conversely, ERK-4 is rapidly tyrosyl phosphorylated by 5 min, and remains in this state for at least 1 hr.

Polyamine influences on the prolactin stimulation of phosphoprotein synthesis in hydroxyurea synchronized MCF-7 human mammary epithelial cells.

The actions of prolactin on the rate of synthesis of an isoelectrically precipitable (pH 4.6) phosphoprotein fraction of the MCF-7 human mammary epithelial cell line were determined in cells synchronized at the G1:S interphase of the cell cycle employing hydroxyurea in a serum-free defined medium. Cells not allowed to enter the S-phase of DNA replication, by maintaining hydroxyurea in the incubation medium, exhibited an increased rate of [3H] leucine incorporation into the isoelectrically precipitable phosphoprotein fraction when exposed to prolactin and 1-5 mM spermidine. Cells released from the hydroxyurea induced synchrony exhibited an increased rate of [3H] leucine incorporation in response to prolactin when ornithine, putrescine, or spermidine were present. The polyamine spermine was ineffective in allowing prolactin's action on phosphoprotein synthesis. In synchronized cells released from the hydroxyurea block, prolactin was shown to effect an increased rate of phosphoprotein synthesis at the posttranscriptional G1 stage of the cell cycle. All prolactin responses were attained with physiological concentrations of the hormone. During and subsequent to the synchrony period with hydroxyurea, the presence or absence of insulin was found to be useful for the "staging" of the cell cycle to maintain cell synchrony and obtain prolactin effects on phosphoprotein synthesis.

Studies on the mechanism by which prolactin regulates protein, RNA, and DNA synthesis in Nb2 node lymphoma cells.

Specific aspects of the prolactin stimulation of RNA, DNA and protein synthesis in the Nb2 node lymphoma cell line were determined. In time sequence studies the onset of the prolactin stimulation of the incorporation of radiolabeled precursors into these macromolecules was found to be 0.5-1 h for [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA, 1-2 h for [3H]leucine incorporation into protein, and 4-8 h for [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. The total DNA content of the cell cultures was increased by 12-18 hours after addition of prolactin. Amiloride, an inhibitor of the plasma-membrane-bound Na+/H+ antiporter, was found to inhibit the mitogenic effects of prolactin. Amiloride was also found to inhibit the prolactin stimulation of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, thus suggesting that the initial regulation of the Na+/H+ antiporter may initiate these responses as well as the mitogenic effect of prolactin. In contrast, H-7, a drug which inhibits protein kinase C, had no effect on the magnitude of the prolactin stimulation of DNA, RNA or protein synthesis at a drug concentration (100 muM) that abolished the mitogenic effect of prolactin. The early effects of prolactin on RNA, DNA and protein synthesis would therefore appear not to involve an activation of protein kinase C.

Actions of insulin on MCF-7 cells that are synchronized with hydroxyurea.

The role of insulin in stimulating metabolic processes in MCF-7 cells was studied in cells synchronized at the G1:S interphase of the cell cycle using hydroxyurea. Cells released from the hydroxyurea block progressed through one S-phase of the cell cycle when insulin was absent from the medium. When free insulin was present the cells continued through more than one S-phase. Since cells accumulate at G0 in serum- and hormone-free conditions it is apparent that insulin has an essential action in the MCF-7 cells between the G0 and S-phase of the cell cycle. Insulin is also known to stimulate the incorporation of [3H]leucine into a pH 4.6 precipitable phosphoprotein fraction in the MCF-7 cells. Insulin was shown to express this action, even when the cells were maintained at the G1:S interphase with hydroxyurea. Insulin is thus able to effect a differentiative action, i.e. a stimulation of phosphoprotein synthesis, under conditions where insulin's effect on [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA is prevented.

Polyamine requirement for prolactin action on macromolecular synthesis in the MCF-7 human mammary epithelial cell line.

The actions of insulin, hydrocortisone, prolactin and growth hormone on the synthesis of macromolecules in MCF-7 cells was determined in a serum-free defined medium. The inclusion of the polyamine spermidine in the medium was shown to enhance the insulin stimulation of the rate of [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA in a manner similar to that demonstrated for hydrocortisone. Spermidine, in addition to insulin and hydrocortisone, was also essential for prolactin to manifest a stimulation of the rate of [3H]uridine incorporation; this effect of spermidine was optimal with spermidine concentrations between 1 and 5 mM. Prolactin also stimulated the rate of [3H]leucine incorporation into total cellular protein and into an isoelectrically precipitable (pH 4.6) phosphoprotein fraction. The actions of prolactin on total protein and phosphoprotein synthesis were only expressed if spermidine, in addition to insulin and hydrocortisone, was contained in the culture medium. All of the prolactin responses were observed employing physiological concentrations of prolactin. Specificity of the prolactin responses was established by demonstrating that porcine growth hormone had no effects on RNA or phosphoprotein synthesis in the MCF-7 cells.

Hormonal control of lipid metabolism in mouse mammary gland explants.

Lipid biosynthesis in cultured mammary tissues from mice during midpregnancy was maximally stimulated by the combined actions of PRL, insulin, and a glucocorticoid. The minimal concentration of cortisol that was consistently permissive for the action of PRL on lipid synthesis was 0.1 microgram/ml (2.76 X 10(-7) M). The PRL effect began after 6-8 h of exposure to PRL. The response to PRL was essentially all or none, with 25 ng/ml sufficient for maximal stimulation. Specificity of the PRL effect is suggested by the observation that 1 microgram/ml bovine GH was without effect in cultured mammary tissues. Additionally, PRL had no effect on lipid metabolism in explants of ovarian fat pad, suggesting that the PRL effect in the mammary gland is not a generalized effect on fat cells. The action of PRL in the mammary gland requires both ongoing RNA and protein syntheses, since both actinomycin D and puromycin abolished its effect. The early action of PRL on lipid biosynthesis was specific for the formation of triglycerides, but not other lipid classes studied.

Effect of insulin at dilution endpoint concentrations on macromolecular synthesis in normal mouse mammary and human breast cancer epithelial cells.

Employing defined media conditions, the insulin sensitivities of mouse mammary gland epithelial cells in primary culture and MCF-7 human mammary epithelial cells were determined. Insulin stimulated the rates of (3H] uridine incorporation into RNA and [3H] leucine incorporation into protein in both primary mouse mammary gland epithelial cell cultures and MCF-7 cell cultures at concentrations approximating the dilution endpoint of the hormone (10-21 M). Insulin stimulated the rate of [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA in primary mouse mammary gland epithelial cells at the dilution endpoint concentrations. However, MCF-7 cells required insulin concentrations 100-1000-times that necessary in mouse mammary epithelial cultures to elicit an increased rate of [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA. Evidence is presented which suggests that the increased rates of uptake of 3H- uridine, [3H] thymidine and [3H] leucine into their respective precursor pools is not responsible for the apparent stimulation of RNA, DNA and protein synthesis.

Phospholipase A2 activity in 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene-induced mammary tumors of rats.

The activities of phospholipase A2 were compared in mammary glands from virgin and mid-pregnant rats and in 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene-induced rat mammary tumors. Enzyme activities were not different in the 150 000 x g pellet fractions of mammary gland homogenates from virgin and mid-pregnant rats, but enzyme activity in the 150 000 x g supernatant fraction was about twice as high in the homogenates from the mid-pregnant rat glands. Phospholipase A2 activities in the 150 000 x g pellet and supernatant fractions of homogenerates of growing tumor tissues were more than an order of magnitude higher than in the normal tissues. The elevated activity of phospholipase A2 in the tumor tissues may be related to their rapid rate of proliferation.

Actions of insulin and hydrocortisone on macromolecular synthesis in primary epithelial cell cultures from mouse mammary glands.

Monolayer cultures of mammary gland epithelial cells were prepared from the abdominal glands of midpregnancy mice. After collagenase digestion of mammary tissue and separation by differential centrifugation, the isolated epithelial cells were cultured in Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and insulin (6 micrograms/ml). Six days later, when the cultures were in log growth and nearly confluent, the effects of insulin and/or hydrocortisone on the rates of RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis were determined in a serum-free medium. At physiological concentrations, insulin enhanced the rates of uptake and incorporation of [3H]uridine into RNA, of [3H]thymidine into DNA, and of [3H]leucine into protein. Hydrocortisone was shown to be biphasic with regard to concentration in attenuating or augmenting insulin's effects on macromolecular synthesis.

Effects of phospholipase A and triton x-100 on guanylate cyclase activity in mammary gland homogenates from mice.

The effects of a variety of agents on guanylate cyclase activity were tested in broken cell preparations of mammary glands from midpregnant mice. Of the agents tested, only phospholipase A, triton X-100, and an impure egg lysolecithin preparation enhanced the activity of guanylate cyclase in mammary gland homogenates; other agents, including sodium azide and phospholipase C, and purified egg lysolecithin had no effect. Phospholipase A increased the activity of guanylate cyclase in the 150,000 g pellet fractions of mammary gland homogenates, bud did not consistently enhance guanylate cyclase in the 150,000 g supernatant fractions. Phospholipase A did not appear to enhance guanylate cyclase activity by solublizing the enzyme from the 150,000 g pellet. Triton X-100, in contrast, appeared to act by solubilizing guanylate cyclase from the material present in the 150,000 g pellet. Triton X-100 increased by several fold guanylate cyclase activity in the tissue homogenates and the 150,000 g pellets, but did not consistently enhance enzyme activity in the 150,000 g supernatant. Triton X-100 had no effect on the apparent Km of guanylate cyclase.

Hydrocortisone enhancement of insulin's action on macromolecular synthesis in MCF-7 cells.

In MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, insulin stimulated the rate of [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA, [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and [3H]leucine incorporation into protein. In addition, hydrocortisone appeared to augment the effect of insulin, by further increasing the rate of [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. A significant increase in the total amount of DNA and protein was present in cultures treated with insulin compared to untreated controls. Hydrocortisone was shown to augment the insulin effect on total protein accumulation and total RNA accumulation in MCF-7 cells.

Characteristics of the insulin stimulation of DNA, RNA and protein metabolism in cultured human mammary carcinoma cells.

In a mammary gland cell line (MCF-7) of human origin, insulin stimulated the rates of RNA, DNA and protein biosynthesis. These effects were observed with concentrations of insulin ranging from 10(-6) M to 10(-10) M. Enhanced rates of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein and [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA were observed within 1 h after exposing the cells to insulin. In contrast, a stimulatory effect of insulin on the rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA was only detectable following a 12--16 h incubation with insulin. Insulin also enhanced the rate of uptake of [3H]leucine, [3H]uridine, and [3H]thymidine into the MCF-7 cells. Finally, incubation with insulin increased the total amount of DNA, RNA and protein in these cells.

Regulation of casein synthesis by polyamines in mammary gland explants of mice.

Studies were carried out to determine whether the actions of prolactin on the metabolism of the mammary gland may involve polyamines. In mouse mammary gland explants that were preincubated for 2 days with insulin plus hydrocortisone, the rate of [3H]leucine incorporation into casein was enhanced in a prolactin-like manner during a further incubation with spermidine plus cyclic GMP or phospholipase A. Putrescine (0.5 mM) plus PGF2alpha, cyclic GMP or arachidonic acid also enhanced the rate of casein synthesis: but PGF2alpha plus 0.5 mM arginine, ornithine or spermine had no effect. Methyl GAG, an inhibitor of the enzyme S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (which is required for the conversion of putrescine to spermidine), abolished the putrescine plus PGF2alpha stimulation of casein synthesis. Since this drug did not affect the action of spermidine plus PGF2alpha on casein synthesis, the specific action of spermidine on casein synthesis is suggested. Neither arginine, ornithine nor the polyamines, by themselves, affected the rate of [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA or the rate of [3H]leucine incorporation into casein. Spermidine levels were elevated within 4 h after adding prolactin to explants which were preincubated for 2 days with insulin plus hydrocortisone; this effect was apparent during incubation periods of up to 48 h with prolactin. Arginase and ornithine decarboxylase activities were also elevated in response to prolactin. Arginase activity was only elevated, however, during long incubation periods with prolactin, i.e., during incubation periods of longer than 2 days. In contrast, ornithine decarboxylase activity was elevated by prolactin within a 30 min incubation period; this effect was maximal after 2 h and persisted during exposure periods of up to 24 h.